Follow My Lead: Step by Step Day 4
You said yes.
Now what?
For many of us, this is where uncertainty creeps in.
We wonder if we're doing enough. We question whether we're growing fast enough. We replay our failures and worry that we've disappointed God.
Following Jesus can become overwhelming real quick if we aren't careful.
The Bible is a big book. It spans thousands of years, dozens of authors, and countless stories. Sometimes the history feels confusing. Sometimes the commands seem difficult. Sometimes following Jesus can feel like we're expected to know far more than we do.
But over the years, this is what I believe Jesus has been whispering to my heart:
"I'm not mad at you. I know you don't understand. I've already talked to the Father about that. Just take one step. One day at a time. Make the effort. Try. That's all I ask. I'll do the rest. I see you trying, and I'm proud of you. That's enough for today."
Those words have changed the way I follow Him.
Jesus never invited His disciples to master everything overnight.
He simply said,
"Follow Me."
He knew they would misunderstand.
He knew they would ask questions.
He knew Peter would deny Him.
He knew Thomas would doubt.
He knew they would stumble.
And He called them anyway.
The same is true for us.
One of my favorite invitations from Jesus is found in Matthew 11:29:
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart."
Learn from me.
Not perform for me.
Not impress me.
Not earn my approval.
Learn from me.
Jesus is a Teacher.
In fact, throughout the Gospels, people often called Him "Rabbi," which simply means Teacher.
That changes the way I think about discipleship.
As a teacher, I don't expect my students to master a new skill the first time I teach it.
I expect mistakes.
I expect confusion.
I expect questions.
I expect practice.
Learning takes time.
Growth takes repetition.
Mastery develops one step at a time.
Why would Jesus expect anything different from us?
One thing I've learned is that I must stay curious.
I must ask questions.
I must study His actions.
I must pay attention to how He treated people.
I must try to imitate Him.
And I must be prepared to fail.
Thankfully, Jesus isn't overwhelmed by my uncertainty.
He isn't bothered by my questions.
In fact, He welcomes them.
Remember, this is all about the relationship.
Jesus said:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
— Matthew 7:7
Questions are not signs of weak faith.
Questions are signs of engagement.
As a teacher, I've learned that questions reveal understanding. When I ask my students questions, I learn what they know. But when students ask questions, I gain insight into how they are thinking and where they are growing.
Questions are good.
God isn't intimidated by them.
He welcomes them because they reveal where we are in the learning process.
And speaking of learning, I've noticed something fascinating.
Every learner moves through four stages.
Acquisition
We are introduced to something new.
We don't fully understand it yet, but we're learning.
Fluency
We begin practicing until the skill becomes quicker and more natural.
Maintenance
We revisit what we've learned so it doesn't fade with time.
Generalization
The skill becomes part of who we are. We naturally apply it in new situations without even thinking about it.
I believe our walk with Jesus follows the same pattern.
We begin by reading His Word.
Maybe we memorize a verse.
Maybe we write it on a sticky note and place it on the bathroom mirror.
Maybe we journal, pray, or quietly sit with it throughout the day.
At first, we're simply acquiring the truth.
We are learning.
We are becoming familiar with the Teacher.
As we revisit His words again and again, they become more familiar. We begin to remember them without looking. That's fluency.
Then we intentionally come back to them, practicing them in everyday moments. That's maintenance.
And one day, almost without realizing it, His truth has settled into our hearts. It shapes our decisions, changes our reactions, and guides our relationships.
We begin living it.
That's generalization.
It has become part of us.
Children become who they practice being.
Disciples become who they practice following.
That is why Jesus spent three years walking with His disciples. He wasn't simply transferring information. He was teaching them how to live.
The same is true for us.
Jesus is the greatest Teacher who has ever lived.
He knows learning takes time.
He knows mistakes are part of growth.
He knows transformation rarely happens all at once.
That's why He is so patient.
He isn't standing over us waiting for us to fail.
He's walking beside us, encouraging every small step forward.
As both a teacher and a learner, I've also discovered something else:
If you don't use it, you lose it.
The same is true with Scripture.
Truth that isn't practiced is easily forgotten.
But truth that is revisited, rehearsed, and lived becomes part of who we are.
So don't worry about tomorrow's steps.
Take today's.
Read one verse.
Ask one question.
Pray one prayer.
Take one act of obedience.
And trust that the Shepherd knows exactly where He's leading.
You don't have to understand the whole journey.
You only have to take the next step.
Make It Personal
Think about your relationship with Jesus as a student and teacher relationship.
What is Jesus trying to teach you right now?
What question have you been afraid to ask Him?
What is one small step you can take today to practice what you already know?
Dig Deeper
Matthew 11:29 — "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me..."
Matthew 7:7-8 — Ask, seek, and knock.
Philippians 1:6 — He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
James 1:22 — Do not merely listen to the word; do what it says.
Luke 6:40 — "The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
The Shepherd isn't asking for perfection.
He's simply asking you to keep learning and keep walking.